L’apprendimento dell’arabo nel contesto universitario tra HLL s e FLL s: il caso UniStraSi

Abstract In recent years, there has been a notable transformation in the profile of Arabic learners in university contexts in both Europe and the United States. This evolution has resulted in the emergence of a new category of learners, namely heritage language learners ( HLL s). These students, who have an Arabic-speaking background, exhibit distinct motivations and needs compared to foreign language learners ( FLL s) of Arabic. This study analyzes the motivations, linguistic competences, and perceptions of both groups at the University for Foreigners of Siena (UniStraSi), utilizing an ad hoc survey designed to address the specific characteristics of these two learner profiles. The findings underscore the necessity of integrating both Standard Arabic ( AS ) and dialectal Arabic ( AD ) into the curriculum, in order to accommodate the heterogeneous motivations, needs, and goals of both learner groups.